Something new has arrived in Ryde, and if you love solving puzzles and helping support an incredible community project, you’re going to be very, very excited about this.
The Lost Crypt is totally unique in the country: an Escape Room set inside a real church crypt – yes, a real church crypt.
What’s an Escape Room?
If you’ve never been to an Escape Room before, they’re a fantastic way to flex your puzzle-solving skills, whilst experiencing a new kind of storytelling.
There’s been a rise in the trend of escape rooms over the last decade and they’re becoming ever more popular, not only with puzzle-solving families and friends, but even with businesses looking for innovative team-building or bonding activities.
Impressive execution
A huge amount of work has gone into making The Lost Crypt an authentic, exciting and intriguing game to play in escape rooms built to a very high standard.
We’ve been lucky enough to have a sneaky peek inside and what the team have managed to create is one of the best escape rooms we’ve seen.
Authentic and atmospheric
Right from the very first moment when you duck down through a small wooden door to get into the Crypt, the ambiance created within the space; the stone walls, the many props (one of which is the old organ from the church), lighting and sounds all contribute to you becoming very quickly invested in solving the mystery – One that is based on a true story.
The team have done a sensational job of ensuring the Escape Room (and there are three areas you have to explore to solve a series of clues to get through to complete the game) feels really authentic and atmospheric.
Why at Aspire?
The idea of installing an escape room as a fundraiser at the former church is the brainchild of Aspire Ryde volunteer, Jan Johnston.
Having tried out an escape room on the mainland and seeing how popular they’ve become, Jan got to thinking about how some of the small spaces within Aspire’s basement rooms (the former Crypt) could be used.
In September last year Trevor Nicholas, the CEO at Aspire, threw his support in, and along with the centre manager, JD, the team set about planning this non-profit venture.
Designed remotely
It just so happened that some good friends of Jan are highly experienced in designing and building escape rooms.
Due to Coronavirus travel restrictions and the last two Lockdowns, George Henderson – from Ryde, who now lives in Austria – and his partner Bobbie Hoogendijk, had to rely on working remotely with the help of video conferencing and still photos.
Once they had an idea of the layout of the space, Bobbie built a scale-model of the Crypt and set about planning the design and build.
It wasn’t long before the space that had previously been used to store crockery was emptied, the plasterboard ripped down and the transformation of creating the spaces and embedding the technology began.
The mystery of the empty tomb
You might be wondering what the mystery is that you have to solve.
As you’ve seen so far, this is no ordinary escape room and as well as the experience taking place in a real crypt, the mystery is based on a true story.
The great naval physician Dr James Lind (1716-1794) was a pioneer expert on the treatment of scurvy. His work is highly celebrated, having originated the first clinical medical trials. A research library and other medical initiatives are established in his name.
Dr Lind was evidently a man of some mystery in various respects, and not least because his final resting place remains unknown. There exists a tomb in his name in Porchester, but it is empty.
A rumour also exists, that he is on the Isle of Wight somewhere. Trying to find his whereabouts, participants are following a lead to the family crypt of his daughter-in-law Elizabeth Lind, in an unseen part of Aspire Ryde’s former church building, Holy Trinity.
Elizabeth was the main benefactor of the church, but with few surviving records, the exact crypt configuration below ground is not entirely known.
Various doorways have been bricked up over the years. The entire lower ground was full to capacity as a crypt before Ryde cemetery was built, so various bodies and artefacts have been moved over time. It’s logical to assume he could be here.
By taking part in the escape room, you’ll discover some of the history of the Lind family in this former church and if you manage to escape, you may even solve the mystery of the missing Dr Lind.
It’s worth pointing out that if you get stuck on the puzzles, there’s someone available to help out and give you clues. Don’t worry you won’t be locked in.
Helping others escape some of life’s very serious problems
From the Website, to the actual escape room, everything has been built by people from Ryde and will be benefiting the community in Ryde, with proceeds from The Lost Crypt going back into the Aspire project.
Those playing the escape room will be directly helping others to escape some of life’s very serious problems.
Trevor Nicholas, CEO at Aspire Ryde, said,
“Like all charities we need to cover our running costs. Our free food project brings in little income but costs money in collecting and distributing surplus food. Some charities cover costs through fundraising events, charity shops and lotteries. We do some of those things ourselves, but we like to be different and innovative in the way we work.
“Our Church building had some really interesting spaces that were just used for storage and we spotted an opportunity to do something creative with them.
“Our escape room will open Aspire to a whole new audience. It will bring in funding but will also spread the word about what we do. It will create jobs and will hopefully bring tourists and visitors into Ryde, boosting the local economy and supporting local businesses.
“Aspire exists to build our whole community and this is an opportunity to do that in a different, exciting and fun way.”
Opening times
The Lost Crypt is open on Sundays and Tuesdays to Thursdays between 10am and 7pm.
It’s also open between 10am and 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays (alternative event package timings by special arrangement).
Tickets are from £20 each (online booking only) minimum of two players required
The Lost Crypt
Aspire Ryde
Trinity Buildings
Dover Street
Ryde PO33 2BN
Phone: 07871 635751
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://thelostcrypt.co.uk/
Follow The Lost Crypt on social media
Facebook: TheLostCryptEscapeRoom
Instagram: thelostcryptescaperoom
Twitter: @LostCrypt
Our thanks to Aspire Ryde for sponsoring this feature. They and other businesses and organisations taking paid promotion enables you to continue reading OnTheWight for free
